Swab



W. F. LERCH.

SWAB.

APPLICATION FILEVD APR.22,1920.

1,388,960. Patented Aug. 30, 1921.

' mmnon W1. LLZPCL/Y A TTORNEYS WITNESSES UNITED STATES PAT ENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM I. LERCH, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

swi

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. LERoH, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Hartford, in the countyof Hartford and State of Connecticut, haveinvented a new and ImprovedSwab, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in swabs, and more particularlyto devices of the character stated designed for use in connection withiodin or any'other liquid or fluid, or semi-fluid, an object of theinven tion being to provide a swab which will be entirely sanitary,which will permit the removal of the cotton after application, and whichwill result in a device which is en- 'tirely sanitary, and which mosteflicien'tly performs the functions for which it is intended.

A further object is to provide a swab with improved means for holdingabsorbent cotton on the end thereof, and which preferably forms aportion of a bottle stopper so that by manipulating the stopper, thelatter o erates as a'handle for the swab. I With these and other objectsin view the invention consists in certain novel features ofconstruction, and combinations and arrangements of parts, as will bemore fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a view mainly in verticalsection, but partly in elevation illustrating my inventlon.

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of my improved swab removed'from thebottle.

Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary "sectional elevations illustratingmodifications.

1 represents a bottle or containgr having a liquid 2 therein which wemay ssume to be iodin, although, of course, my invention is not limitedto usein connection with any liquid or compound to be utilized.

3 represents the bottle stopper which may be of rubber, cork, or another suitable material and to which a r0 4 is secured. This rod 4 ispreferably of glass, although 1t may be made of any other suitablematerial and. is preferably secured in the stopper 3 by forcing the sameinto a recess 5 in the end of the stopper.

An enlargement 6 is provided on the lower end of the rod 4, andthisenlargement, shown in Fig. 2, is of, general spherical form. Theenlargement 6 and the lower portlon of Specification of Letters Patent.

1920. Serial No. 375,776.

the rod 4 are made with a roughened surface 7 which may be convenientlyformed by constructing the same of ground glass, although the roughenedsurface may be formed in other ways.

13 represents a ring which is movable on the rod 4, but which is of aninternal diameter less than the external diameter of the enlargement 6to prevent the accidental removal or loss of the ring.

In operation, absorbent cotton 8 is positioned around the enlargement 6and the lower end of the rod 4 and the I ing- 13 is moved downwardlyonto the cotton, clamp rod so that the cotton is securely held and formsa part of the swab.

In Figs. 3 and 4, I illustrate modified shapes of the lower end of therod and a modified form of clamping device.

In Fig. 3, the enlargement 9, corresponding to enlargement 6, is ofellipsoidal form and the clampingdevice is in the form of a conical ringor cup-shaped collar 10 Wl'llCh has an extended bearing or grippingsurface against the cotton 8.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4, the enlarged lower end 11 of therod tapers gradually, or, in other words, decreases 1n diameter from itslower end to its point of juncture with the main portion of the rod 4,and in this modification I have shown a slightly different shape of'ringor collar 12.

It is, of course, to be understood that in some cases the cotton may beutilized in connection with theenlarged roughened end of the rod withoutthe employment of any clamping device as the cotton will-gr p the rod,but, in most instances, I believe 1t advisable to employ a clamping ringor collar which will eflectually secure the cotton to the rod.

With my improved device, after each operation the cotton can be burnedor otherwise disposed of and the lower end of'the rod and the ring canbe sterilized before using again, so that the device can be main-Patented Aug. 30, 1921. i

tained'in absolutely sanitary condition at all rod as indicated in Fig.2. When the swab is dipped into abottle withoutanyrotton around theenlargement, the r1ng W111 rest snug y against the enlargement and forma dipper or container for liquid. When the enlargement is moved over thesurface to be treated, the ring will be slightly displaced, allowing theliquid to leak between the ring and the enlargement.

It is probable that the devices will be made comprising the stopper 3and the elements of the swab and sold to the trade for use in connectionwith any sort of bottle or container, or may be so manufactured as to beused without regard to the particular container.

Various other slight changes might be made in the general form andarrangement of parts described without departing from the invention, andhence I do not limit myself to the precise details set forth, but con-'sider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairlyfall Within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 1. A swab, comprising a rod having an enlarged end adapted toreceive absorbent cotton, and a ring movable on the rod and adapted toclamp said cotton on the rod, the internal diameter of the ring beinggreater than the external diameter of the rod but less than the externaldiameter of said enlargement. i

2. A swab comprising a rod, a handle on one end of the rod, an integralenlargement on the other end of the rod, a ring movable on the rodbetween the handle and the enlargement, the internal diameter of saidring being greater than the external diameter of said rod but less thanthe external diameter of said enlargement, and said enlargement taperingtoward said rod and adapted to snuglyaccom modate the rin WILLIAM F.LERCH.

